So you’re coming to Krakow and you have no idea how you’re going to get around. While the Old Town and Jewish District are fairly walkable, there are a lot of valuable things to do just outside the city center that you may need a bus or tram for. Or hey, maybe you don’t want…
Tag: travel
Fika in Krakow: Swedish Treats
Kanelbulle, Semla, Coffee, oh my! Have you heard of Fika? To say it is simply a coffee break would be to insult every Swede that has negotiated 4 fikas into their workday (seriously look it up, they demand these things). To say it is just grabbing coffee with friends would be to downplay the importance…
Wyspia By Kinga Nowak: A Temporary Exhibit
Visiting Wyspia on the Wawel Castle Courtyards Questions? Email us at emilysguidetokrakow@gmail.com or DM us at @emilys.guide.to.krakow on Instagram or TikTok If you’re walking through the outer courtyard of Wawel Castle, you may notice a bright spot among the cold, mostly gray, winter skyline. Kinga Nowak‘s newest piece “Wyspia” adds an immense amount of whimsy…
140 Things to do in Krakow Poland
140 Things to do in Krakow Krakow, or as the British like to call it Cracow, is an amazing city, and there is so much to do here. I’ve taken a lot of time to compile a list of almost everything you can do! Coming soon is a printable checklist for your next trip. But for now,…
12 Things to Put on Your Krakow Christmas Market List this Year
The Christmas market in the Rynek Główny is set up for the whole of the Christmas season in Krakow and it’s a wonderful place to pick up Christmas gifts, souvenirs and to try some amazing Polish food and drinks! The video above shows you a selection of things to be had at the annual holiday market! Open…
Krakow at Christmas: 73rd Annual Szopki Competition
Every year on the first Thursday of December, the Historical Museum of Krakow holds the annual Szopka Competition! This year was its 73rd year. Children, adults, everyone brings their handcrafted szopka to the statue at the heart of the Main Square. Krakowians and visitors gather together, starting around 9am, to watch the szopki be brought in….
Polish Traditions: Christmas Time
If you will be in Krakow during or around Christmas time you are in for a real treat. Not only will the Main Market Square be filled with a bustling Christmas Market, complete with Polish Market Food, homemade goodies, and crafts, but the city will also have events for you to enjoy as well! See…
12 Days of Christmas in Krakow
Follow us the next twelve days as we take you all over the city of Krakow to show you what Christmas in Krakow is really like! Each day we will post a new video and pictures as a countdown to Christmas. Below is a sneak-peek at what we have in store… And remember everyday on…
Eat a Meal in a Local’s Home
My biggest fear when I travel is that I am going to end up at a restaurant where a local person would never go. I always search before a trip to find a place that is recommended by a local blogger or talk to my friends that may have spent some time actually living in…
8 Tips for Cheap Eats in Krakow
1. Obwarzanki are your friends Obwarzanek are the Krakowian bagel. You can get them on virtually every street corner. And while local Poles will have a favorite stand, we think they are good just about anywhere. They only cost around 40 US cents and have toppings like poppy seeds, cheese, salt, or sesame seeds. They make…
Day Trippin: Top 10 Things to do in Zakopane, Poland
We have so many posts about Zakopane right now, we’re thinking about starting an Emily’s Guide dedicated just to the mountain town. But for now we bring you our list of the best things to do in Zakopane. Use this list to build the perfect itinerary. If you’re doing a one-day trip from Krakow you…
A Tour Of Krakow’s Main Square
The main square of Krakow is one of the most visited sights of the city, and for good reason. The Rynek Główny, as it is called in Polish, is one of the largest squares in Europe and contains strikingly beautiful architecture and an abundance of Polish history, However, the monuments and points of interest to…
The Royal Snack Route: A snack-crawl through Krakow!
This article is out of date. Most are pleasantly surprised by the food here in Poland, and even more surprised by the prices. We have a whole list of must-eats here, but if you want to make a whole day of it, we have created The Royal Snack Route, highlighting the best Polish street-eats, which just…
Welcome to Krakow and About Us
Krakow is one of my favorite cities in the world for many reasons, and is an amazing place for travelers to visit and ex-pats to live. It is still slightly undiscovered if you compare it to other popular tourist destinations, such as Prague or Paris. It’s very cheap for anyone traveling with a stong currency, like…
Follow Us Anywhere!
Want more of Emily’s Guide? Or to join in the fun! Feel free to visit our social sites as well- and follow us for even more local activity from Krakow! Find us on…. Facebook Instagram Tumblr Vine Pinterest Twitter Google+ Don’t forget if you have any questions, comments, or want us to make you a…
The Typical Tourist Checklist: Things to do in Krakow
Things to do in Krakow: This is a list of sites that are on most tourists’ lists! Browse around and click on the links to learn more about each one. Or for our complete list of everything you can do in Krakow visit our Ultimate List of 120+ Things to Do in Krakow! …
Off the Beaten Path: Unique Experiences
Unique Experiences in Krakow If you have had your fill of European cities, and are looking for something that sets Krakow apart from the rest, then look no further than this list. From exciting flea markets to amazing picnicing spots this list has it all, and consider them mostly local spots. For our Ultimate List…
The Vistula River
The bank of the Vistula River is perfect for picnicing, while the river itself provides a space for boats to dock, and a beer to be had upon the water. Bike paths also run along the banks in several directions, enjoyable no matter which way you go, but with a great ending point if you…
Food Truck Square
I just read today that Krakow was named in Travel and Leisure’s yearly CNN sponsored list for the best cities in the world to go to. How exciting! So what is something new here in Krakow that people are enjoying? You may not know that Kazimierz is actually a really “new” part of town. Yes,…
Have a car? Head to the beach! Sosina Lake.
So while there are several lakes within Krakow to visit, my favorites including The Bagry, Zakrzowek, and Zalew Nowohucki (plus of course the more touristic and crowded Kryspinoff), if you have a car and can drive out to Sosina, it may be worth it… Still in Malopolska (Lesser Poland), Sosina is reachable by car in…
Zakrzowek: Enter if you Dare (but really its fine)
Is it really illegal? So for a few years now I have heard things about Zakrzowek, about it being dangerous, about it being illegal. I went this winter and it provided beautiful walking trails and view of the distant city, you can easily spot the Main Square attractions from atop the cliffs. But I had no…
Zalew Bagry: The Lakes of Krakow
Relax Lakeside in Krakow The Bagry (Zalew Bagry) is somewhere I had always wanted to go. My students always talked about it, but it was hard to imagine. Really? You can wakeboard in Krakow?! And also windsurf, or swim, or kayak, or take a mini-yacht? I thought they had to be playing a trick on me….
A Printable Guidebook
Hello! So this printable guide is actualy why this blog was born. In January 2015 I opened my home to Airbnb travelers and quickly realized that they needed more information while staying in my home and being in Krakow. I started by creating this guidebook for guests to use during their stay. I’m not going to…
What to Eat, Where to Eat It, and Where and What to Drink With It
What to Eat in Poland This is our must eat list for Krakow, and covers the basics of Polish cuisine. Most items are easy and cheap to buy at a grocery store and cook at home, but will taste much better from a recommended restaurant. And only buy Zapiekanki from the Plac Nowy in Kazimierz….
Outside the City Limits and Day Trips from Krakow
Want to head out of town for the day? Check out these awesome locations, mostly reachable by bus or train, some easier to get to by car, they will show you another side of Poland, much different from Krakow. (Although I consider Aushcwitz and the Wieliczka Salt Mines to be day trips, I have included…
Festivals, Traditions, and Holidays
The best way to find out what is going on in Krakow during your stay is to check in with the Krakow Festival Bureau or grab a copy of the Karnet magazine. (For those of you with an Instagram or Facebook, I suggest following the accounts for both those offices, among others, to get a feel…
The Synagogues of Kazimierz
Throughout the Jewish district of Kazimierz you will find seven synagogue, each one having its own charm, with some giving Classical Music or Film concerts, and others displaying exhibits of interesting history. Two synagogues still offer active services to the community, Tempel at 24 Miodowa street and Remuh at 40 Szeroka street. A full break-down of information…
Church of St. Francis
Even if you are going through Europe and have had your fill of European churches, because I know I have, St. Francis is a breath of fresh air. Its vibrantly colored walls cannot be done justice by my camera, and so I invite you to go see it for yourself. And if you are a…
Kazimierz: The Old and New Jewish Cemeteries
In the Jewish District of Krakow, Kazimierz, you can find many synagogues and Jewish cemeteries. The cemeteries are striking examples of the desturction the Nazis caused in these areas, and how the destruction had been repaired since. During the Holocaust, gravestones were broken and destroyed, taken to be used as stones for pathways or just…
Main Attraction: Grodzka Street and the Royal Way
Off of the Main Market Square you will find Ulica Grodzka (Grodzka Street), which if you follow it, will lead you to Wawel Castle. The entire Royal Way can be followed from the Kleparz district, down Florianska Street, into the Main Market Square, and the last leg completed by walking down Grodzka Street, which opens up…
Say Hello to the Hejnal
Every hour on the hour, keep your ears open for the Hejnal playing his trumpet from the top of St. Mary’s Church Tower. Legend has it that during a Mongol Invasion in the 1200’s, the Hejnal began playing his trumpet to warn the city, and was shot in the heart. Today if you listen closely,…
Shots and Food and Beer: Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa
Featured on our Royal Snack Route and Best Local Places! Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa has locations all over the city, in the Jewish district on the Plac Nowy, off Florianska Street, and on Szewska Street (both close to the Main Market Square). What will probably first catch your eye are the prices, all drinks are 4zl…
Polish Traditions: Easter Basket and Eggs
If you’re lucky enough to be in Poland for Easter, we suggest joining in some of the traditions, whether you are Catholic or not. Two very unique traditions are the dying of Easter eggs and the blessing of Easter baskets. Go to a local farmer’s market to find all the supplies you will need to…
The Small Square: Mały Rynek
Just behind St. Mary’s Church in the Main Market Square, sits a smaller square, the Mały Rynek. Here you will often find small festivals during the high tourist season, and on days without festivals you will be able to experience a much quieter square compared to the Main Market. With unique charm and colors, it is…
Best Eats: Gospada Koko
Out of all the restaurants that we can recommend in Krakow, Koko is by far the one we actually visit the most. Anytime someone comes to visit, we take them here. Anytime we have to be in the Main Square for an event, we stop by for a beer and some pierogi. It is full…
Off the Beaten Path: The Mounds of Krakow
There are four mounds (kopiec) around the city, each with its own unique story. Some are said to have Kings buried below them, while others are made of soil carried by citizens from prominent battlegrounds. No matter the legend, they provide breathtaking views of the entire city, each from a different view point, and some…
Flea Markets in Krakow
There are a couple of flea markets in town that are worth stopping by. If you aren’t here on a Sunday, then check the Plac Nowy in Kazimierz, almost any day of the week, for some fun finds (best on Saturday and Sunday). And if you are here on a Sunday, then look no further…
Farmer’s Markets in Krakow
There are a few European style covered markets in the city. Some are closer to the tourist attractions, and our favorite one is located a little further from the Old Town, and closer to the residential neighborhoods. Both Nowy Kleparz and Stary Kleparz are within walking distance of the major tourist attractions, but their prices are higher, and…
Auschwitz and Birkenau
There are so many options when it comes to visiting Auscwitz, here I break down all of the available information.
Helpful Information for Certain Situations
Hello and welcome to our collection of recommendations that we have made for our readers that have reached out and asked for help. We frequently get asked questions about specific situations, especially things that we plan to cover on the blog, but just haven’t gotten to yet. Below you will find the question or situation that…